Often dilutes have slate colored skin like he does, but this is not always the case. Some dilutes have nose leathers and paw pads so dark they are barely distinguishable from black. Dilution also affects the irises, and they are lighter than nondilute littermates have.
Dilution affects only the areas of the coat that would have been black or liver. Neither tan nor white markings are affected. The mutation of the MLPH gene which is responsible for dilute color in a number of other breeds is present in the Aussie. It is a recessive, so both parents of a dilute must carry the mutation.
Dilute, a non-standard color that sometimes occurs in the breed, is associated with skin problems in some breeds. However, this does not appear to be a consistent problem in dilute Aussies.
Solid black and red coats are the least common coats among Aussie dogs, with solid red being the absolute rarest. The red-colored gene is recessive in dogs, meaning red fur must be present in both parents to make a red-colored pup.
Look for folded ears.
Overall, they should reach down to, or slightly past, the pivot area of the lower jaw. There is some debate about whether an Aussie should have folded or upright ears. While show dogs are required to have folded ears, there are many purebred dogs that have upright, or pricked, ears.
What Creates the natural bobbed tail? The natural bobbed tail is a recessive gene within the Australian Shepherd dog breed genetic code. This genetic mutation curbs the tail, naturally creating a shortened tail that is only about one or two vertebrae in length.
(You'll know if your dog has herding instincts if they try to “herd” you or your family members, especially small children!) The herding behavior can display itself in a variety of ways. Dogs might try to herd people by physically moving them with their body, by staring them down, or nipping at their heels.
Are Black Australian Shepherds Rare? Only solid black Aussies are rare, since this breed typically has a multicolored coat. The other coat patterns in the black category are much more common.
Aussies might have any combination of brown, blue, hazel, amber, or green eyes. Some Aussies even display more than one color within the same eye.
THE DILUTION GENE. Commonly called the Maltese dilution, or MLPH, this recessive gene is one of the most common mismarks in Aussies. It acts on black and liver hair; tan points are unaffected. A black dog becomes a slate blue like a blue Dobe.
Similarly, some breeders claim that dilute dogs should never be bred together. There is no genetic basis for this claim.
Quick Summary. Several gene variants are known to produce dilute coloration in dogs. Colors are lightened (diluted) to paler shades as a result of the variants' effects on pigmentation.
Dogs with cryptic merle (also called phantom or ghost merle) typically display little to no merle pattern and some may be misclassified as non-merles. The cryptic merle alleles occur in the lower end of the range (typically from 200-255, however, this range and designation varies by study).
This genetic site is responsible for diluted pigment which lightens coats from black or brown to gray or blue or very pale brown. A mutation in the melanophilin (MLPH) gene is the cause of color dilution. The two alleles associated with dilution are D (dominant full color) and d (recessive dilute).
Dogs with excess white markings, sometimes referred to as mismarks, or over-marked. Australian Shepherds with too much white are usually healthy(exceptions noted below). There are entire breeds that allow far more white than typical of Aussies.
It all comes down to genetics. Those two different eye colors, which is also known as wall eye, is one trait of many in dogs that their mother and father canine can pass down. With two parents, a puppy's gene copies double. Sometimes, these genes conflict with one another.
The Aussie's desire to cuddle
Dogs in general are known for being happy, cuddly, sweet, and soothing for a human to pet. Some breeds are, by nature, more affectionate than others. While the Aussie will typically reserve cuddling for one person or a group of trusted people, sometimes he won't want to cuddle at all.
Most dogs have brown eyes, but there are breeds with pale blue, speckled, golden, or hazel colored eyes. The rarest color of all is green. Dog eye color changes as they age. It often takes nine to 12 weeks for a puppy's eye color to settle.
Australian Shepherd
Despite their high energy, Aussies are usually quiet. They may bark to alert their owners of a stranger or an unfamiliar situation but other than that, you won't hear much from them.
Australian Shepherds are known to be one of the most intelligent dog breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club, and are renown for their obedience, agility, and excellence in herding and other active sports.
Australian shepherd colors and patterns can vary greatly, but the United States Australian Shepherd Association recognizes these four major categories: black, red, red merle, and blue merle (merle being the genetic pattern that occurs in a dog's coat, often appearing as speckled patches of color).
The breed is considered highly intelligent and easy to train. Aussies are known for being especially eager to please their owners. True to their herding instincts, Aussies are very protective of their families and territory and will let you know if strangers approach, but they are not considered aggressive.
Aussies can be very clingy. They crave human companionship and love being included in pretty much everything you do, including being involved in all family activity. Since they require an active lifestyle, they will want to join in everything and anything that is going on around them.
Australian Shepherds tend to whine for all sorts of reasons, such as to get your attention or if they're sick or injured. If you can rule out a medical condition, then the next step to quiet your Aussie is to train them not to whine. Failing to indulge in their bad behavior will clue them in to stop.
Aussie Shepherds are typically quite vocal dogs. They can bark for numerous reasons, even if it's just for attention or because they're excited. As they're high energy, they get excited quite quickly.